Meaning of "Westward": Westward, Kanto and South Asia are all famous population migrations in China's history. Xikou, now the specific meaning is controversial, saying that it is the Yellow River ferry in northern Shanxi that kills the tiger mouth; It is said to be west of Zhangjiakou, Hebei. In Qing Dynasty, it generally refers to the vast Inner Mongolia area north of Shanxi and west of Zhangjiakou, Hebei, such as Baotou and other places. Because this is the junction of the Qing government and the Mongolian ancients, the land is vast and sparsely populated, and further north is the Mongolian grassland, that is, the Mongols. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, a pass was set up in Hebei, Shanxi and northern Shaanxi, and the place north of the pass was called Waikou. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the merchandise trade with Mongols was carried out at several fixed points outside the mouth, similar to the establishment of foreign trade ports in places bordering Russia and Kazakhstan today. Businessmen in Shanxi were going to do business outside, so they got the pass, which was later called westward. Later, westward movement became a general term. Businessmen from Shanxi, Shaanxi and Hebei go out to do business, all of which are called westward. This incident had a great influence on later generations, and a large number of Han Chinese immigrated to the outside of the mouth, stabilizing the frontier.

The ancient Shanxi folk song "Walking to the West" is said to have been circulated for one or two hundred years. This song can be sung not only by Shanxi people, but also by many people in neighboring Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi and even Ningxia, Qinghai and Gansu. There's an old saying in China called "different sounds in ten miles", which says that folk songs have strong regional characteristics. The reason why people in many places in the northwest can sing "Walking to the West" is probably because many Shanxi people have been to these places at that time. Some people have been singing this song for a long time and the locals have learned it.

Lyrics of "Walking West"

Brother, if you want to go west, it is difficult for your sister to stay.

When I mentioned that you were going west, my little sister cried.

Brother, if you want to go to the Western Heaven, your sister won't lose your hand.

There are two sweet words, brother, you should remember.

When you walk, you should take the main road, not the path.

There are many people on the road, so I can talk to relieve my worries.

By boat. Don't bow your head when you get on the boat.

There is a big storm at the bow lest you fall into the river.

Brother, you should go west, don't make friends,

I made a lot of friends, afraid of forgetting me.

Take your brother to the intersection, your sister won't miss,

The last sentence of parting, my sister is waiting for you to get old.